In a significant development, the U.S. military's temporary pier in Gaza is set to be reattached on Wednesday, only to be removed permanently a few days later, according to three U.S. officials who spoke to ABC News. The pier, known as Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS), was authorized to remain operational in Gaza until July 31. However, it is now expected to cease operations even before the end of the month.

The pier, with a price tag of $230 million, was intended to serve as a vital maritime corridor to transport humanitarian aid into Gaza, as major land routes were closed by Israel due to security concerns. The system's deployment to Gaza was announced earlier this year by President Joe Biden during his State of the Union speech.

Unfortunately, the pier's operations were severely hampered by rough seas, leading to lengthy interruptions. Since its anchoring on May 17, the pier has been operational for only 23 out of the 53 days. Its temporary structure, capable of rising and falling with the waves, had to be relocated multiple times to the Israeli port of Ashdod due to rough seas, including for repairs after portions of the pier broke.

Prior to being moved to Ashdod on June 28, the pier successfully delivered over 19.4 million pounds of humanitarian aid into Gaza, as reported by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). However, a significant portion of the aid remained at the staging area on the beach, as the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) refused to pick it up due to the lack of a distribution system.

One of the key issues highlighted by aid organizations is the absence of an efficient mechanism to distribute aid once it arrives in Gaza. Although WFP had initially agreed to deliver aid arriving via the pier, operations were temporarily suspended in June pending a security review, and they have not yet resumed.

In recent developments, a Pentagon spokesman confirmed that while the pier was in Ashdod, WFP significantly reduced the amount of aid at the staging area and transferred it to their warehouses in Gaza for distribution. As a result, any remaining humanitarian aid in Cyprus is expected to be transported to Gaza in the coming days, after which the operations of the pier will likely come to an end.

The reattachment and subsequent removal of the U.S. military's temporary pier in Gaza underscores the challenges faced by humanitarian efforts in the region. Finding alternative solutions to ensure the smooth and efficient delivery of aid into Gaza remains a critical concern for international organizations involved in addressing the humanitarian crisis.